The government has begun a fresh push to take control of its public messaging, with ministries, State departments and agencies being told to explain their work more actively as President William Ruto’s administration faces growing scrutiny over its record.
The new communication plan is contained in an August 7, 2026 circular issued by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, the Government Spokesperson and heads of State agencies.
The circular calls for a major shift from the way government institutions have been communicating with the public, saying officials have often waited for issues to arise before responding.
Koskei says the government has also at times allowed different institutions to give conflicting accounts, a situation he says has contributed to the loss of public confidence.
The new approach requires government institutions to take the lead in explaining policies, programmes and projects instead of waiting for criticism before responding.
Every ministry, department and agency will have to prepare a communication strategy that follows the National Communication Policy recently approved by Cabinet.
The plans are expected to show how institutions will explain government decisions and projects, communicate during emergencies and involve citizens and other stakeholders.
They will also include funding for communication activities and plans for regular engagement with the media.
Communication officers are expected to become more visible in government institutions, while Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and agency heads will carry direct responsibility for the information coming from their offices.
The officials have been told to ensure that government messages are timely, clear and coordinated across institutions.
They have also been tasked with responding to misinformation and preventing "external actors from shaping national discourse".
The directive comes as government communication faces a tougher environment, particularly online, where policies and official decisions can attract criticism or competing accounts almost immediately.
Koskei has placed the National Communication Centre at the heart of the new arrangement, directing the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications to make it operational "with immediate effect".
The centre was established under Executive Order No. 1 of 2025 and is intended to provide a central point for handling information from government institutions.
Its work will involve receiving, collecting, checking and preparing government information for release to the public.
The arrangement is expected to bring information from different arms of government under a more coordinated system before it is communicated to citizens.
Government Spokesperson Charles Owino will be expected to extend the reach of the agreed government positions through various communication platforms.
The messages will be developed in consultation with ministries and agencies, with the circular calling for consistency, coherence and effectiveness in government communication.
The directive further requires major government projects to have communication plans and measures for identifying and dealing with communication risks.
Koskei has ordered ministries and State agencies to include communication plans in their performance contracts, making the function part of their institutional responsibilities.
The government will rely on a wide range of official platforms to carry its messages, including KBC, Kenya News Agency, Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board and the Government Advertising Agency.
Other platforms named in the circular are the National Communication Centre, ICT Authority, Directorate of Public Communications, government websites and official social media accounts.
The State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications and the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy have also been directed to keep providing platforms, skills and opportunities to support government communication.
The new system gives government agencies a larger role in presenting their work to the public while placing greater emphasis on a common message across State institutions.
It also creates a wider communication network through which information on government policies, programmes and projects can be prepared, coordinated and shared through official channels.
While the circular does not mention the 2027 General Election, the communication changes come as the administration faces continued criticism over the cost of living, taxes, public debt, healthcare, housing, education and unemployment.
Opposition parties have made the government’s economic record a major issue in their efforts to challenge Ruto in the 2027 election.
The stronger focus on government achievements therefore gives the new communication system added importance as the administration prepares to defend its record in the face of increased political competition.